The worst disasters in history, part 1: natural disasters

Mother Nature is beautiful. Magical. Inspirational.

She can also be terrifying and unstoppable. Moving from calm to calamitous in the blink of an eye. The sun goes from warming the earth to scorching it. The ground is solid one moment and shifting uncontrollably the next. Water goes from level and peaceful to lethal and powerful in an instant.

And suddenly, natural beauty becomes a natural disaster.

World Vision Canada looks at some of the worst disasters in history. This is part 1, which focuses on natural disasters. You can also read part 2, which looks at the worst man-made disasters in history.

Worst natural disasters in history: ancient times

Chicxulub Crater, Mexico: 66 million years ago

If there was ever a truly planet-changing natural disaster, it’s the Chicxulub (pronounced “cheek-shoo-LOOB”) asteroid. Its impact wiped out the dinosaurs.

Estimates say the asteroid was 10 kilometres (6 miles) in diameter (taller than Mount Everest from sea level) and impacted Earth at 20 kilometres (12 miles) per second––tens of times faster than the speed of sound.

Upon collision, it left a crater around 200 kilometres (120 miles) in width in what is now the Yucatán Peninsula. Additionally:

• The equivalent of 100 million megatons of TNT (that's over a billion atomic bombs) was released.
• Shockwaves were felt around the globe.
• Global temperatures may have dropped by as much as 28 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).

Sadly, 75 per cent of species went extinct with birds being the only direct descendants of dinosaurs today.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Italy: August 24, 79 AD

Before the atomic bomb, there was Mount Vesuvius.

Days prior, minor earthquakes hit the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Since tremors frequently occurred in the region, people ignored them.

Days later, on August 24 (the traditional recorded date of the event) at around 1 p.m. Mount Vesuvius erupted. That was unignorable, considering the volcano:

• Ejected 1.5 million tons of ash and molten rock per second.
• Created a volcanic cloud that may have reached 33 kilometres (21 miles) in height.

The eruption was so powerful, it may have generated 100,000 times the thermal energy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Some estimates say up to 16,000 died. Mount Vesuvius is still active (last erupting in 1944 ), and approximately three million people currently live nearby.

Crete Earthquake and Tsunami, Greece: July 21, 365 AD

Around sunrise, a catastrophic 8.5-magnitude undersea earthquake occurred in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

While not the biggest earthquake in history, it was strong enough to lift parts of the isle of Crete up to 9 metres (30 feet). Nearly all towns on the island were destroyed instantly.

The tsunami that followed was equally deadly. Consider what happened to the city of Alexandria, approximately 650 kilometres (406 miles) from the epicentre:

• Waves 8 metres (26 feet) in height crashed against the shore.
• Ships were hurled onto the rooftops of houses and buildings.
• Estimates say 5,000 people died and 50,000 homes were destroyed.

The tsunami didn’t stop in Alexandria as it reached Northern Libya, Cyprus and possibly even Sicily, approximately 900 kilometres (560 miles) away.

Worst natural disasters in history: 1900-1999

Yangtze-Huai River Floods, China. August 25, 1931

The Yangtze River is the third-longest river in the world. It’s over 6,300 kilometres (3,900 miles) in length and winds its way along major cities like Wuhan, Nanjing and Shanghai.

The winter of 1930–31 was heavy. The summer that followed saw consistent, monsoon-like rainfall. Between June and August, melting snow, continuous rain and inadequate flood management all overwhelmed the river. On August 25, water washed away protective dikes near Gaoyou Lake.

All told:

• Estimates range from one million to four million people who died in the flood and its aftermath.
• Approximately 150,000 drowned immediately after the flood.
• The flood inundated 180,000 square kilometers (69,000 square miles) of land (the size of the state of Missouri).

Now, the Yangtze River is controlled by the Three Gorges Dam. It is the world’s largest hydroelectric dam and protects millions of people from severe flooding.

Fun fact: the dam can store so much water that it may have added 0.06 microseconds to Earth’s spin.

Valdivia Earthquake and Tsunami, Chile: May 22, 1960

When people talk about earthquakes, they may mention “the big one.”

Around 3:11 p.m. local time on May 22, the biggest one happened. Valdivia—a city 850 kilometres (528 miles) south of Santiago—experienced the strongest earthquake ever recorded with a 9.6-magnitude. Lasting 10 minutes, it left two million people homeless.

The subsequent tsunami travelled eastward to Chile and westward across the Pacific. In Chile, waves 25 metres (80 feet) in height crashed inland. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean:

• The Hawaiian island of Hilo, 10,700 kilometres (6,700 miles) away, experienced waves 11 metres (35 feet) in height.
• It took 22 hours for the tsunami to reach the Japanese island of Honshu, where 1,600 homes were destroyed.
• The impact of the tsunami killed 32 people in the Philippines.

Across Chile and the Pacific, it’s estimated that up to six thousand people may have died. Shortly after this disaster, the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System was established.

Bhola Cyclone, East Pakistan: November 12, 1970

This is the deadliest non-flood natural disaster in history.

On November 8, a massive cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal. At its strongest, its winds were 240 kilometres per hour (150 miles per hour). At its biggest, it was likely several hundred kilometres in diameter.

When it finally made landfall, the winds slowed down to 185 kilometres per hour (115 miles per hour). The devastation was immediate and immense:

• The storm surge was 10 metres (33 feet) in height and swept over low-lying islands and coastal villages.
• Around 300,000 people died in the storm itself and 500,000 in total died.
• Thousands of villages were destroyed and 13 islands were left completely barren.

This natural disaster wasn’t just a weather event, but a political one, too.

Public unhappiness with the government’s response efforts spurred political reform. In 1971, East Pakistan claimed independence with a new name: Bangladesh.

Armero Tragedy, Colombia: November 13, 1985

Locals called it “ the Sleeping Lion.” And after sleeping for 69 years, the Nevado del Ruiz stratovolcano in Tolima, Colombia erupted.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

As volcanic gas and matter settled back down on the volcano, it began melting the glaciers which had formed after nearly 70 years of inactivity. When volcanic debris mixes with rocks, dirt and other organic material—and then slides down—that’s called a lahar.

Four lahars (think of them as mudslides) at speeds of 50 kilometres per hour (30 miles per hour) slid down the volcano towards the town of Armero. The citizens were unprepared and the devastation was unimaginable:

• Roughly 20,000 people were killed in Armero (that’s 69 per cent of its total population of 29,000).
• Three thousand people in other towns died.

Armero wasn’t just covered in mud, it was entombed. It’s estimated that mud 4.6 metres (15 feet) in depth completely engulfed the town.

Hurricane Mitch, Central America: October 29, 1998

The last time an Atlantic hurricane was this devastating was in 1780, when hurricanes didn’t have names.

Hurricane Mitch formed on October 22 and reached Category 5 status (winds of 285 kilometres per hour or 180 miles per hour). What made Mitch different was its slowness. When the storm reached Central America, it stalled and remained in place for days.

Its eye made landfall on the northern coast of Honduras. No longer a Category 5, Mitch was still powerful and was around 560 kilometres (350 miles) in diameter.

Honduras, along with Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and other countries were pounded with relentless rainfall. When it was over:

• Over 11,000 people died from flooding or mudslides.
• More than one million people evacuated the region.
• Outbreaks of cholera, leptospirosis and dengue fever occurred.

Honduras bore the brunt of the damage. It’s estimated that over 24 per cent of the population was made homeless and that 50 years of progress and development were wiped out.

• Restoring hope: Three-year-old Angelica lost her home but saved the Raggedy Ann doll her sponsor gave her. Two years on, with help from World Vision, Angelica has a new home for her family and her special doll.

Worst natural disasters: 2000-2025

Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, Sumatra: December 26, 2004

The most powerful earthquake recorded in Asia is also one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

A giant 9.3-magnitude undersea earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The earthquake itself was devastating enough:

• The fault rupture (the length where tectonic plates slip past each other) was around 1,400 kilometres (900 miles).
• The duration of the earthquake was 10 minutes, the longest ever recorded.

The earthquake was so powerful, the entire planet vibrated, the location of the North Pole shifted and shortened its day by 2 microseconds.

Then came the tsunami.

Waves reaching 51 metres (167 feet) crashed into the coast of Sumatra almost instantly. Smaller, yet still powerful, waves reached Thailand, India and Sri Lanka a few hours later.

And 17 hours later, approximately 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) away in distant Somalia, waves up to 9 metres (30 feet) in height arrived on its shores.

All told, over 227,000 people across 15 countries lost their lives, with 160,000 coming from Indonesia alone.

• World Vision was there: The effort included emergency relief, community rehabilitation, livelihood recovery and infrastructure reconstruction. See how the region has rebuilt itself 20 years later .

Hurricane Katrina, United States: August 29, 2005

Everyone knew it was coming. Many people prepared for it. And the aftermath was still devastating.

Hurricane Katrina formed on August 23 and quickly gained strength to become a Category 5 hurricane. At its peak, Katrina packed winds of 280 kilometres per hour (175 miles per hour).

When it made landfall near New Orleans six days later, Katrina weakened to a Category 3 hurricane. Despite that, the damage was still extensive:

• At least 1,392 deaths with an additional 652 people missing.
• Around 80 per cent of the city was submerged under water due to levees failing (New Orleans is below sea level).
• Over one million homes across Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi were damaged.

Even the Superdome, used as a shelter of last resort, wasn’t immune as Katrina ripped two holes in its roof.

To fully emphasize its impact, consider that before Katrina, the population of New Orleans was approximately 454,000. Afterwards, it was 230,000. Even 20+ years later, the population still hasn’t reached pre-Katrina levels.

• Stories from Katrina: World Vision opened a temporary 43,000 square-foot warehouse to distribute food, hygiene kits and other supplies. Ten years after Katrina, survivors and responders remember what it was like in the days and weeks that followed landfall.

Haiti Earthquake, Haiti: January 12, 2010

On January 12, approximately 25 kilometres (16 miles) west of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the town of Léogâne.

And by January 24, the area experienced at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5-magnitude or greater.

Homes, hospitals and schools collapsed. With poor infrastructure and food insecurity already rampant, the country struggled to care for those affected by the disaster. As a result:

• More than 300,000 lost their lives.
• Around 2.3 million people were displaced.
• Almost 4,000 schools were damaged or destroyed.

In the days after the disaster, a cholera outbreak occurred, as the country was not equipped with the proper sanitation needed to prevent its spread. When the outbreak was contained in 2019, approximately 9,000 people had died from it.

• Visiting Haiti 10 years later: World Vision was there to provide disaster relief in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. Ten years later, World Vision is still there, helping the country and people get back on their feet.

Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan: March 11, 2011

Japan is no stranger to earthquakes. But it couldn’t even have prepared for this.

At 2:46 p.m. (Japan Standard Time), a massive 9.1-magnitude undersea earthquake struck. It was the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded and moved the island of Honshu 2.4 metres (8 feet) east.

The earthquake, relatively speaking, caused slight damage. The same is not said of the following tsunami, which hit Japan approximately 30 minutes later:

• The tsunami travelled at 800 kilometres per hour (500 miles per hour) in the deep ocean.
• Waves reached 40 metres (133 feet) in height and crashed 10 kilometres (6 miles) inland.
• Nearly 20,000 people died or went missing with 90 per cent of deaths caused by drowning.

The earthquake was bad. The tsunami, worse. Additionally, tsunami waves crashed into the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, causing a partial meltdown. Thankfully, no deaths were attributed to any radiation exposure.

• Springing into action: Within 48 hours, World Vision was on site, assessing the most affected areas. Through emergency response and disaster relief efforts, World Vision assisted over 300,000 people over a three-year period.

World Vision Canada: first in, last out

When the world’s worst natural disasters strike, World Vision Canada is there. Our motto is “first in, last out” to provide immediate emergency response support. It’s important to get there and stay there long after the emergency has passed.

• The first 72: Discover how World Vision teams get to disaster areas quickly and what happens within the first 72 hours to help children and families survive.

Lives can change in an instant. Our global relief network includes seven strategically located warehouses around the world, ready to deliver emergency supplies to 225,000 people.

Help us be ready

It’s hard to predict when a natural disaster will strike. But when it does, World Vision Canada is ready to rescue, recover and rebuild.

Here’s how you can help us help vulnerable communities when disaster strikes:

• Donate emergency food: Keep hunger at bay with urgent food delivery. When you donate emergency food, your gift multiplies 7x in value thanks to contributions from the World Food Programme.
• Cash and vouchers: Let families choose the supplies they need while supporting local markets. Your gift will multiply 7x in value thanks to contributions from the World Food Programme.
• Water purification and hygiene kits: Provide clean water when and where it’s needed most along with soap, toothpaste and more. Your gift will multiply 6x in value thanks to contributions from our World Vision Canada partners.